The UMNO Saga

I have slept an average of 4 hours a day, spent 2 days a week with my family and not spent enough time at the office this past one month. Why? Because, I am contesting for the UMNO Deputy Youth Chief in Sembrong, Johor.

I never thought that it would be so taxing and difficult. There are 49 branches in my division and I need to get 51% of the votes to be elected as Deputy Youth Chief in Sembrong. I obviously want a strong mandate and therefore would have to work extra hard to get the votes in.

For many, they ask and wonder why on earth am I killing myself spending all that valuable time in politics? Why politics? I think it is the same reason why people represent their country in a certain sport, or why a mother gives her child a 100% devotion. Passion. I have always had passion for politics for some reason. It is like a calling that I cannot resist and I would not be satisfied if I did not do something to address that calling.

I am lucky to have a wife that understands my passion. My son however is still adjusting to the fact that I am always in Johor. He misses me tremendously and keeps telling my wife that he too wants to work with me in Johor. Sadly, politics is no place for a child. The hours and traveling is brutal for a young toddler and besides he has got kindergarten to attend.

My late mother Hanim Hussein use to discourage me from entering politics because of the corruption, back stabbing, greed and dirt that comes as a package in politics. However, she slowly changed her mind when she saw that I was persistent and I kept holding on to my intentions of why i was entering the political arena.

I still believe in the idealisms and struggles of Dato’ Onn, The Tunku, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein. These leaders before us were in politics purely to serve the people. These days it is quite the opposite but I believe it is not too late to change.

I am sure that many young Malaysians share the same idealisms that I hold on to so dearly. I pray and hope that we do not forget our intentions and not get swayed along the way.

An Education System Worthy of Malaysia

I read a book titled “An Education System worthy of Malaysia” about 5 years ago. The author wrote the book using the American education system as a model to make comparison to the Malaysian education system. His book basically concludes by saying that a lot more needs to be done to upgrade our Malaysian education system.

I did not think much of it then but now that I have two kids I am forced to think about the future of my kids and where they should study and go to school. My eldest is three years old and he is currently going to a kindergarten not too far from home. He also goes to music class twice a week and every time he comes back from kindergarten and music class he will be so happy and there will be a glow in his face which says that he has learnt a lot of things and that he really had a good time learning with his friends.

This look and glow from my son was the exact same look that I saw in my nephews face until they went to primary school. The change in system and method of teaching really shocked their system but as time past they learnt to adapt and blend into the system. This is the exact same system which I adapted to when I was a child.

Having said all that, when viewed in the context of our achievements vis-a-vis the other Commonwealth countries, it is heartening to note that our education system ranks very high in key indicators among our peers who share the same legacy, colonial past and system. It is, therefore, crucial that we appreciate the fact that we need not start from scratch. We have to build on these strong fundamentals, adjust where necessary, reform where needed and re-engineer what is not working.

The next step forward I think is to compare ourselves to developed nations where children are thought using the best techniques and methods. There was a research carried out recently by the UN with stated that the problem with Malaysian students is that they lack creativity.

A key method used by developed nations and my son’s kindergarten to make learning more fun and allow the child to be creative in thinking is to use the VAK method. The VAK method, also known as the visual, auditory and kinaesthetic is a method which allows a child to learn in a manner that best suites them. Using the VAK method a teacher will use visual aids, auditory aids and movement to teach making learning much more enjoyable for the child.

Our education system focuses mainly on the auditory aspects and it is usually just a one way conversation. The teacher will speak and the child will only listen and to make things worst they are not allowed to ask questions. It is therefore not a wonder why many kids feel bored at school and memorise facts and figures for the sake of exams. Kids should learn and study because it is fun and meaningful and not just because they have to sit for an exam.

The good news is that my wife and I still have a couple of years to decide on which school to send our son. I would love to hear comments from parents in Malaysia and abroad that are facing the same dilemma as us.

Bar Council Causes Stir Over Hosting Social Contract Forum.

28 June 2008, a social contract forum was held at the Bar Council Kuala Lumpur today. Approximately 300 people attended the forum attracting all races and age groups. The panel members were Dr Mavis Puthucheany, political scientist, Dr Kua Kia Soong, director SUARAM, Dr Farish Noor, political scientist, Tommy Thomas, advocate & solicitor.

For those who attended the forum, they could clearly see that it was not a healthy and open discussion. One could basically describe it as an UMNO bashing session where all panelist were basically pro-opposition. Even the famous Dr Farish who supposedly represented the Malays was a liberal Malay who has clearly forgotten his routes. The panel was one sided and there was no balance in views and opinions. It is disappointing that the Bar Council who preach for justice and healthy discussion only had pro opposition on the panel. This is where I come in to give a differing view and probably a more balanced view.

All four panelist started off by talking about the history of Malaysia. However, the panel was divided in its conclusion. Thommy Thomas and Dr Farish Noor concluded that the social contract should not be scraped as it binds the fabric of this country. It must however be reinvented so that it becomes relevant to 2008 and the years to come.

The underlying message of the forum or the hidden agenda, if you like, was that every Malaysian should have equal rights and we need to re-look at what was agreed 50 years ago.

I have to admit, for the sake of unity I have to agree that the social contract needs to be revisited. Whether the timing is now or later remains debatable. But one has to remember that when one asks the Malays to give up their rights and privileges they should understand that the Malays would naturally be upset for the obvious reasons.


So let us turn the tables just for a moment. During the forum, Dr Kua said that the Chinese Schools and Indian Schools should be maintained for the Chinese race and the Indian race as it is human rights issue and no one should question that. Even if it is true that it is a human rights issue, all I am asking is that can’t you can learn Chinese and the Indian language at a National School?

One could argue that if the Chinese are sincere about racial unity than they should start to act in a sincere manner. Why should they be afraid that the vernacular schools be closed down? As the saying goes, if there is a will there is a way. They can still learn the mother tongue in national schools. How convenient? Let us look at the social contract and lets take out what favors the Malays but let us maintain whatever is convenient to the non- Malays.

My conclusion is that the idealism and the spirit of Malaysian Malaysia can only come true when all races are ready and willing to give up their rights and privileges and not at the expense of any one race.